Birmingham City Council has become the first to publicly admit that it will not meet the July 2005 deadline for deciding how it will bring its 70,000 homes up to the decent homes standard

The admission 鈥� contained in council papers seen by Housing Today 鈥� has raised serious concerns that England鈥檚 largest social landlord will fail to hit the 2010 decent homes deadline.

The council plans to complete its stock-option appraisal by July 2006, the earliest date by which its two-year options appraisal process can be finished.

Birmingham council link officer Nigel Christie said at a housing and urban renewal committee meeting that the Government Office for the West Midlands had indicated that it 鈥渨ould be flexible鈥� if the council wanted to postpone the appraisal.

A GOWM spokesperson said: 鈥淏irmingham is currently working through the option appraisal process and GOWM has been acting to support them.鈥�

But Birmingham councillors are worried by the delay, with one expressing concern at 鈥渟lippage鈥� in the timescale, and said options appraisal was 鈥渇undamental鈥� to achieve the decent homes standard.

A council spokeswoman said: 鈥淲e are seeking approval from GOWM for an additional 12 months for the stock options appraisal, given that Birmingham is producing an overarching strategy and given Birmingham鈥檚 unique position [in having received a 鈥榥o鈥� vote when it balloted its tenants over stock transfer in April 2002].鈥�

Councillor Steve Bedser said he鈥檇 voiced concerns about the 鈥渟low approach鈥�, but had been assured it would not affect Birmingham鈥檚 ability to deliver the decent homes standard. He added: 鈥淚t will leave only three and a half years to do the real work鈥�.

Richard Clark, chief executive of Prime Focus, one of the largest housing associations in the West Midlands, said: 鈥淐learly it is disappointing that the city is unable to complete the appraisal for the original deadline. It is essential that it is done properly and I support the request for more time.鈥�

Countdown to deadline crisis

  • April 02 Tenants reject stock transfer with
    a 65% 鈥渘o鈥� vote on a 67% turnout.

  • December 02 Up to one third of council homes will fail to meet standard unless transferred to RSLs.

  • March 04 Council says it needs an extra 拢165m to meet decency standard.

  • November 04 Council seeks permission to postpone stock options appraisal until July 2006.

Source

Housing Today